LEO HOROSCOPE

Venus in Leo on August 25th introduces a mentor, coach, or teacher into your orbit. Many of us don't recognize the potential we carry inside which is why it's always exciting to meet someone who does. This shows all the signs of an exciting and creative collaboration if you're willing to put in the time and energy. You won't see immediate results, but the plus side to Venus forming a trine to Saturn on the same day is in its longevity and sustained effort. Keep these two things in mind and you'll accomplish more under this person's tutelage than you ever would have imagined possible.

You were born in Summer, the season of abundance. We often associate Summer with taking things at a relaxed pace, however Summer is also connected to the harvest and no sign knows this better than your succedent sign Virgo. Harvesting was always regarded as a bit of a hectic time in previous eras because it was a race against time to gather all the fruit, vegetables, and wheat before they spoiled beneath the Sun's rays. This will be your life for the next 4 weeks. Yes, you'll be exhausted by the end of it but you'll also be happy with the bumper crop you take in.

Mercury out of retrograde on August 11th is good news for Leo people waiting to hear back about an offer, bid, or sale. However, terms may also have changed without you knowing it – like baggage in the overhead bins shifting in flight. What this means is you need to double-check all the details and fine print. Mercury retrogrades are famous for introducing subtle changes in wording or added clauses camouflaged in technical sounding jargon. You don't want to wind up agreeing to – or signing on for – something that wasn't part of the original deal. If you don't check then you'll only have yourself to blame.

You won't like it when colleagues accuse you of always getting your way on August 6th. Of course you get your way. Why shouldn't you? And for that matter: why shouldn't they? Point out to associates that they're free to stand up for the things they want just as boldly and brazenly as you stand up for what you want. If anything you encourage it. You believe in people's right to be true to themselves, but it's a right that each of us has to earn. You don't get what you want out of life by having a pity party or throwing a hissy fit.

People are certainly insistent about their beliefs nowadays. Either everybody has to be on the same page or they’ll start throwing books at each other. Any planetary square to Neptune is challenging because it often brings out facets of someone that we prefer to overlook; things you probably knew about, but didn’t really want to address. On August 1st it looks like there will be a falling out between you and a mentor, teacher, or trusted advisor. This will leave you feeling bruised and disillusioned but it’s good because it’s time to start thinking for yourself. You’re a lot wiser than you give yourself credit for.

Things that used to come easy don't anymore, but that doesn't mean you can't deliver. Admittedly it's been a while since you've been at the top of your game but instead of caving into fear, tap into the energy of the Sun/Saturn trine on July 24th and show the world (as well as yourself) that you're up to the task at hand. Moreover tackling this challenge now gets you to lean into that talent, forte, or expertise that's been collecting dust on the back shelf for too long. Not only will you discover you still have what it takes – you'll find you have even more!

Mercury retrograde in Leo can lead to embarrassing situations because Leo is ruled by the Sun and the Sun shines a spotlight on anyone born under it. What looked triumphant one moment can become humiliating the next so the best way to survive this time is to own your mistakes. Don't try to distance yourself from them, cover up, or explain your way out of a corner because you'll only make matters worse; however you will come across as much more honorable – and indeed admirable – by being straightforward. Just tell it like it is and you'll deter critics looking to score cheap shots at your expense.

A goal that was in reach escapes your grasp when Saturn turns retrograde on July 12th. The planet of detours and delays, Saturn becomes even more Kafkaesque when it reverses direction in the sky. Expect to be plunged into a bureaucratic maze of repetitive paperwork and nonsensical requests. The best way to manage yourself during your time in limbo is to reflect on your belief and convictions. You might laugh at the idea, but that's exactly what's being tested here because it's only be reconnecting to your moral compass that you will find your way out. Saturn will be retrograde from July 12th until November 28th.

Venus conjunct Uranus at the last degree of Taurus on July 4th shows you breaking ties with a company that you've been wanting to break ties with for a long time. Part of you feels sad about it, but a bigger part of you can't wait to move on. There's so much to look forward to! The planets show that you'll soon join forces with like-minded people who are just as committed to those high standards of excellence as you. This will have a positive effect on your creativity, ingenuity, and self-confidence. So much so that you'll never hide your light under a bushel again.

Usually strokes of genius are just that – strokes. You may be excited by an idea, seized by an impulse, or bedazzled by an intuitive flash, but since these inspirations rarely coincide with conducive circumstances they're often left to wither on the vine. Fortunately the Mercury/Saturn trine on June 27th shows you speaking to a receptive audience. This means that there are people around you who get what you are about and can help put your ideas into action so that they produce tangible results. After months of rough sketching you’ll see at least one make the leap from the drawing board to the material world.